Douglas County looks to join three others wanting their treasurers to serve as their public trustees rather than being appointed by the governor, tackling a tradition as old as the office itself.

Pointing towards a greater accountability to citizens caught up in the foreclosure process, proponents of a bill before a state legislative committee Monday said they aim to change roughly 100 years of history by replacing the politically appointed trustees with individuals who answer directly to voters or other county officials.

“Who would vote against allowing counties to save money while increasing accountability?” El Paso County Commissioner Peggy Littleton asked members of the House committee on local government during hearings Monday. “It’s like having your own household and your neighbor comes to live with you. You have no authority over them, but you get to provide their food, their lodging and they enjoy all the privileges of living there.”

After about an hour of testimony Monday, the effort was laid over until at least next week for additional hearings. Douglas County is to be added on an amendment, according to Rep. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, sponsor of HB-1329.

Treasurers in 53 Colorado counties also serve as public trustees who are responsible for overseeing the foreclosure process. The governor appoints the trustee in 10 of the state’s largest counties. Some treasurers are elected while others are appointed by county commissioners. Denver’s clerk and recorder is its public trustee.

Douglas County will join Weld, El Paso and Mesa counties in seeking the change.

The other counties with appointed trustees, but not on the bill, are Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer and Pueblo.

The public trustees and Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office have not taken a position on the bill and refused comment.

“A few years ago we had a public trustee who went renegade and rogue on us, going off on their own with plans to beef up and spend the money of that office on on full medical and full retirement benefit plans for themselves,” Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer said.

A customer dining at Washington’s Oceanaire restaurant noticed an unusual line at the bottom of his receipt: “Due to the rising costs of doing business in this location, including costs associated with higher minimum wage rates, a 3% surcharge has been added to your total bill.”